The Lucky Rock

By Renee Ballou

I was sitting under my favorite place in the world. It’s a place where I can let my thoughts run, a place where I can be whatever and do whatever. My favorite place was the cherry blossom tree in the meadow behind my house. Under the tree were rocks and soft grass. I was lying on the soft grass, staring at the clouds. My thoughts and my whole mind fell onto the rocks and disappeared. I felt like I was lying on one of those clouds, like nothing was going to stop me from lying there. Out of the corner of my eye I saw something sparkling. It was a rock! It had gold specks in it and was gray in color. I picked it up and it fit perfectly in my hand. My mind and thoughts jumped back into my head as I walked back to my house.

Every day I would run back to the meadow and try to find another rock. I was never successful.  Each time I went, I visited my secret world in my head. One day when I was looking behind the cherry blossom tree, I heard a rustling sound. I moved toward the sound but I couldn’t see anything. I walked closer to the rustle. I was in a part of the meadow that I had never been in before. Finally, I could see what was making the rustle. A beautiful lake with ducks and swans stood before me. I looked into the water’s surface and saw my reflection, along with some fish in the background! I remembered that I had a bathing suit under my clothes, so I dove into the lake. The warmth of the water hit my face as my hands touched the sandy bottom of the lake.

I was eating breakfast as fast as I could because we were going to move away from the cherry blossom tree, the meadow, and the pond, which had become my second home. Most of all we were moving away from my secret world. We were going to move by the ocean in Maine. Maine is my favorite vacation spot, so I wasn’t too sad.  I put my lucky rock in my pocket. I could feel its magic spreading across my leg. I brought my suitcase to the car and went back to the cherry blossom tree to say good bye.  I heard the engine of our car roar so I took one last glance at the meadow and hurried outside. 

I jumped out of the car to stretch my legs the minute we got to the new house. I felt excited but I was already missing our old home and my wonderful backyard. Our new house was a big two story home with sage green siding and beige shutters.  My new room has green walls and a full sized bed with a window seat that looks out onto a garden. I moved my suitcase into my room and peered out of my window at the view of the flowers below. 

I walked slowly to the kitchen, examining the bare walls. The smell of roasted chicken led the way. My parents asked me how I liked the new house. I just shrugged. After everyone had settled in their bedrooms for the night, I crept past my parents’ bedroom and tiptoed through the living room to the back door. I wanted to explore the garden that I saw from the window seat in my room. I stepped outside. The cool breeze brushed my face. I could just make out the woods in the darkness. I slowly walked towards the garden. It was filled with wild flowers, tulips, sun flowers, geraniums, roses, daisies, and marigolds. Another paradise, I thought. I walked back inside and into the living room. I fell into a dreamy sleep with the warm of a dying fire on my face.